King is the younger brother of Mathew Saviadjuk, Pootoogook Jaw and Salomonie Jaw, all excellent carvers and each with quite different interests and styles. He made his first carvings when he was about eight but did not take it up seriously until his early thirties. King worked in the mine at Nanasivik, where he became an industrial mechanic, and today is seasonally employed as a certified carpenter. He credits his brother Pootoogook as an influence on his carving.